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I was supposed to post this early today but I have been glued to the TV and Facebook because of the Philippine national elections. Promise, no talk of politics here.

I posted my selfie after voting yesterday. And my friends shifted the discussion from the voting process to my skin. Ok ya, that photo is flattering. I think my phone has a natural filter. But I wasn’t really that fresh. I stood in line outside in the heat for almost two hours. I wore a hat and sunglasses and used an umbrella. I also had two fans, a manual and battery operated mini fan. My friends asked me about my beauty regimen. This is not to say that I am an authority in beauty. I’m not. It’s not something that I dwell on. But I do make an effort to take care of myself. My regimen is not complicated. But it takes a bit of commitment.

Last weekend I broadcasted live on Facebook. I was so amused at all the questions sent to me. I think 80% was about beauty. So I know that this is something important to you, my readers.

Like I always say, all I do is get a facial and a Power Peel at Belo every three weeks. I barely use any products on my face because I have tendency to be oily. I only use moisturizers when we are traveling in a cold climate. Here in Manila, my skin remains hydrated naturally, so I don’t add creams. I only spend on makeup remover and the occasional sunblock when I know I’ll be exposed.

I have been going to Belo for about eight years now. My regimen has remained the same. I like sticking to what works. I am happy with the quality of my skin. I can go out of the house, and even attend events, with no make up on. Seriously.

Fast forward to now, it is the month of Mother’s Day. I know most moms would love to get treats and pampering. So Belo Medical Group and I partnered to bring this amazing opportunity for you to get the same treatments I do. Most moms work too hard – in the office, on location, at home, and even just before going to bed. It seems like we are always “on” and never on break. Sometimes it feels like the entire house will fall apart if we were absent. But really, moms need to take a break regularly. Let everyone else pick up the slack. Take care of yourselves first before you can care for others.

So this week we are doing a major giveaway for one lucky mom. She will be getting a #BeloPamperDay. My lucky reader can have the chance to win a #BeloPamperDay gift certificate for herself or his/her mom. This amazing package includes –

1 session of Glycopeel Cleaning/Honey Almond Cleaning — An aromatic honey almond scrub that gently exfoliates dead skin cells and is perfect for those with dry and sensitive skin.

1 session of Exilis in the abdomen area — A new body contouring and skin tightening machine. This makes use of focused RF technology to treat jowling, loose skin on the neck and décolletage area. It can also help fat and flabby abdomen, back, arms, legs, and knees.

Me and my mom.

All you have to do is tell us why your mom deserves to have this amazing beauty treat from Belo. Here are the mechanics:

Upload a photo of you and your mom on Instagram and tell us why do you want to treat your mom to a #BeloPamperDay.

Use the hashtag #BeloPamperDay on the caption and tag @belobeauty

Post should be made public

There will be one winner who will get all three treatments. Winner will be notified in Instagram.

Contest runs from May 10-13 up to 3pm Manila Time. Announcement of winners can be on May 13 shortly after contest ends. You may claim the prize from May 16-20. The GC is valid for 6 months.

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Last February in Bhutan, I finally got to wear this Uniqlo and Lemaire wool coat that I bought from the Fall Winter 2015 collection. I didn’t need another coat but I couldn’t resist. It was made of wool but it was unlined. It draped very well, and weighed lightly. As it turns out, it is the same coat that New Yorkers went nuts over when the collection came out. Lucky me. I got it marked-down at the end of the season.

Wool coat by Uniqlo and Lemaire FW2015.

When I got back from Bhutan, I received an email from the representatives of Uniqlo Philippines asking me if I’d be open to reviewing the Uniqlo and Lemaire Spring Summer 2016 collection. I jumped! I disclosed that I had been a fan of former Hermès creative director Christophe Lemaire. His clothes were like objects that were timeless but not simply “classic”. They allowed the wearer to interpret the pieces their own personal way. I checked out the items in store. Before Uniqlo could even send me some pieces to try, I already bought my faves.

This season, Uniqlo and Lemaire has belted dresses, knitted polos, sweaters, tent tops, ponchos, wide-legged pants and culottes, all in Lemaire’s minimalist aesthetic. The colour palette includes cream, slate blue and grey, a muted mustard, blue green and bright red. Lemaire and partner Sarah-Linh Tran were inspired by French holidays of the ’60s, hence breezy tent tops and tie-waist dresses. According to Vogue, thin-ribbed knits will appeal to customers looking to channel their inner Jane Birkin lounging on the sands of Cap d’Antibes.

One of my favourite pieces is this white shirt in heavy cotton. It has scalloped hems and patches on the sleeves.

I got my fix of Uniqlo and Lemaire SS 2016. The white cotton seer-sucker tent top is perfect for this summer. I have already worn it three times. The single-pleat wide-leg pant comes in blue, off white, black, and mustard. I had to have the A-Line coat which mimics a classic trench minus the hardware. The mustard v-neck sweater has a deep cut. For the photos below, which my daughter Sophia took, I’m wearing it carefully without inner wear. In reality you would need a tank top or something to go under as the neck line is cut really low.

Here are some of the best pieces in the collection that came out on March 4th.

A belted striped long sleeve dress. And a deep v-neck dress made with textured seersucker fabric.

Flared skirt in cotton seersucker that comes in red, blue and black. Not just another blue blazer. This one is in light cotton fabric, is cut long, and with buttons towards the left.

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When Ines de la Fressange came out with her first collection for Uniqlo in the spring of 2014, I went nuts. It was my first time to really love a designer collaboration. While most people lined up for high street collabs with couture and luxury brands, I raved about the basics that IDLFxUniqlo came out with. It was all about easy-to-wear basics with that Parisian je ne sais quoi that Ines embodies. Lots of boyish shirts, shrunken blazers, slim trousers, longer shirt dresses with a 1940’s silhouette (lawn dresses). I was able to throw the pieces together without giving it much thought. It was very Parisian Chic, her guidebook to French effortless style.

Every season since then, Ines came out with Uniqlo pieces and I continued to shop. Admittedly I preferred the spring-summer items over the fall-winter lines, simply because of the fabric used and the fact that I live in the tropics. I’m all about cotton and linen, and Uniqlo uses both fabrics so well.

This season Ines’ latest collaboration with Uniqlo does not disappoint. It showed three themes — voyage, uniform, and sport.

My favourite of the three themes is Voyage. I’ve been doing a lot of travelling the past couple of years. IDLFxUniqlo has been part of my staple wardrobe. This season, they use a lot of “French Linen,” which is a premium type of linen made from natural and high quality linens produced in northwestern France and Belgium. The fabric is extremely breathable, has outstanding water-absorbing properties. The fabric does not stick to your skin and is nice and dry to the touch.

My 13-year-old daughter, Sophia, took the next two photos of me in our garage. I’m wearing my favourite pieces from the Voyage theme — the heavy linen jacket and the linen relaxed trousers — which were sent to me by Uniqlo. I’m wearing them with Robert Clergerie loafers. The jacket has this crisp, refreshing feel of linen material. The large flap pockets and safari-style design complement the natural texture of linen. This jacket is heavier than the other linen jackets and tops. It would be perfect for spring days in Toronto or Hong Kong. But it’s too hot to wear in the Philippines, unless you’re guaranteed to stay inside an air-conditioned room all day. I got it anyway because it is one of those timeless pieces that I know I will wear for many years. The pants, as the name suggests, is very relaxed. It features an elastic waist with a drawstring cut loose in the hips and narrow towards the cuffs. I have these pants from an earlier season, and they were my travel uniform!

My favourite pieces from the current collection — and I only have one out of the three. Very sad. I have the 3/4 sleeve striped dress. It runs a bit short, so I wear them with shorts underneath. The slub long sleeve dress is the perfect anything dress with lots of pocket. I wish I had bought this. My biggest regret, not buying this wool blend navy blazer. It is structured and perfect for more serious occasions but also good for layering while traveling. It’s so elegant. Sadly, it’s sold out in the Philippines.

I also stocked up on these. A cotton ribbed blouson jacket, perfect light jacket for spring. Or all year round if you’re in Manila. And this shirt is pure love. The ruffled neck and cuffs – such a great detail in what otherwise would look like a very masculine basic shirt. And look how it flares out in the bottom.

I’ve been really pleased with all my IDLF pieces. This was her fifth collection. I hope it never ends. Though Uniqlo seems to be churning out more interesting collaborations. I’m just glad I got some very good pieces that will stay in my closet for a long time. Here are moments in the past when I wore IDLFxUniqlo pieces…

A throwback to IDLFxUniqlo’s first collaboration from March 2014. This lawn dress is still with me. I love the vintage silhouette. And I’m a fan of shirt dresses. I’m not a fan of wearing prints though, but this one has a graphic quality despite all the flowers. This makes the cut for me.

Also from the 2014 spring-summer line, this casual cotton “suit”. I dressed it up a bit with my Jewelmer strand when I wore it back when I hosted the Salon Talks during Cebu Design Week in 2014. This is still the suit that I bring when I am traveling in case I need a serious outfit. It is light weight and unlined. I also love wearing these separately.

From the 2015 spring-summer collection, another shirt dress cut loose in French linen. This is me in the fall of 2015 in the French countryside, when I chaperoned my daughter at camp in Gerardmer. This dress never makes it to the back of my closet. I always wear this when I need to rush out of the house, like say to pick up my kids at school or run to the grocery. In this photo I’m wearing the dress with staple, the Birkenstock Gizeh in black patent leather.

This dress was from the 2014 collection, but the photo was taken in June of 2015. Again… linen, relaxed, Birkenstocks. And yup I’m inside a bathroom (of Casa Loma in Toronto).

And here’s something crazy real. My sister and I at the Port Credit playground in Toronto last 2015 summer. Those pants are also IDLFxUniqlo. It’s in cotton-linen with a thin pinstripe. I can wear these with clogs and wedges, but I also love wearing them with slip ons. The socks bit isn’t too chic, but with five small kids around us, my sister and I didn’t really care. This was taken one morning before I even took a shower. Haha. Note that most, if not all, IDLFxUniqlo trousers are cut low on the hip. It’s not a problem for me, but may be an issue for taller people. Best to try them on.

From the fall-winter 2014 line, cotton twill chinos from IDLFxUniqlo. I use them as my “roughing it” pants. This was our trek up to Tiger’s Nest in Bhutan in February 2015.

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I hosted the launch of the exhibit of Fritz Hansen’s collaboration with esteemed Filipino architects and designers at Studio Dimensione at BGC.

It is the 60th anniversary of the Series 7 chair by Arne Jacobsen whose collaboration with Fritz Hansen dates back to 1934. The Series 7™ was designed in 1955 and is by far the most sold chair in the history of Fritz Hansen and perhaps also in furniture history. It is made of pressure moulded veneer with four stackable legs.

Each of the Filipino architects and designers were given the task to re-interpret the timeless and classic Series 7 Chair by Arne Jacobsen. It was a celebration, of not just the chair, but also of the local Filipino architecture and design ingenuity. It is taking a design made way back in 1950s and showing how it is still relevant to us. The classic silhouette of the Series 7 transcends time and space.

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Remember our staycation last weekend at Discovery Primea? You, too, can get a chance to win a staycation at Discovery Primea or Club Paradise courtesy of this promotion from my sponsor, Melissa.

Melissa recently launched a collection called Take Me To Rio for spring summer 2015. It features both pastel and eye-catching colors in avant-garde styles – from sexy and comfortable heels to fabulous flats – perfect for the upcoming summer season. I wore my Melissa shoes during our staycation.

My poolside essentials include the Melissa Bronzer.

When I arrived at our hotel room in Discovery Primea, I was surprised to find these in the closet.

My girls and I all wear the same types of Melissa shoes now. From left to right: Sophia’s, Lily’s, Stella’s, and mine.

Soph got the Melissa Flox III from the Take Me to Rio line, upper left. Stella’s is a black Mini Flox (I’m so happy they have sizes for tweens now.) Lily’s is the classic Zigzag by the Campana Brothers. And mine is the Aranha 1979.

I really love the Aranha 1979. This is the first style of Melissa “jelly shoes” from 35 years ago. Melissa has been releasing versions of the Aranha. But this season they came out with the exact same replica, using newer technology and material. This pair is bringing back so many great memories of my teen life in Canada. I am contemplating on getting another colour.

Step into summer with Melissa.

For summer 2016, Melissa Philippines wants every beach babe and chic gal to have the chance to win the best summer trip yet with Take Me To Paradise raffle promo. For every P2,000 purchase of Melissa shoes from February 15 to March 31, 2016, a customer is entitled to get one (1) raffle coupon. Loyalty cardholders are also entitled to get one (1) raffle coupon for every P2,000 purchase (net of the loyalty card discount).

There shall be a total of six winners consisting of: three (3) winners of P8,000 worth of Melissa Gift Certificates, two (2) winners of an Overnight Staycation for Two at Discovery Primea with P4,000 worth of Melissa Gift Certificates, and for the grand prize, one (1) winner of a 3 days/2 nights trip for two at Club Paradise Palawan with P5,000 pocket money.